What would you do? (Trust dilemma)

Don't touch him with a barge pole! Find someone who comes with good references.

No way. Get an expert...

Expert? Where are they?

Anything involving gas must be fitted by a qualified Gas Engineer (what we used to call “Corgi” qualified.)
For heavens sake listen to the word of mouth “references” you have heard and run a mile.
Do not part with a penny, but inform in writing that you will not be proceeding with this work
No need to give any reasons, you are the one who “pays the piper” or on this case, doesn’t.

No way should you let this character over the threshold! Get some recommendations as to good and reliable local tradesmen via the Next Door website or ask friends and neighbours who they recommend.

Note : this is in the news and politics thread... I'm not sure the OP is being quite open about the actual 'job'!

Oh no!

You’ll live to regret it for sure.

OP you may wish to move this to a more appropriate forum such as House and Home.
GNHQ will do it for you if you contact them..

Oh I see, yes I get it now, very clever Amagran!

Doh!! Thanks, Jane10, I've just "got it".?

No No and No!!!!

Is it BJ enterprises? Don’t touch them with a barge pole!

Well it’s not so much a matter of trust as belief. If you believe in this workman and what he tells you, then that should be enough. I would just caution though that actually what he might term as getting the job done may not really be the end of the matter. You may be stuck with years of negotiating if things don’t work out as expected. Is there anyone else you’ve got lined up as an alternative if you decide not to go ahead with this one? There might be someone who says you really don’t need a new central heating system and boiler at all or maybe you’ve been through all this with someone else who just can’t decide whether you do or not. Personally I’d stock up on sleeping bags, hot water bottles and portable heaters whatever you decide. Good luck

Ha ha, we know who you mean...no don’t trust him!

Thank you for your advice, but there seem to be a lot of other people who are willing to place their trust in him to do jobs for them even when they know what I have said about him in my OP.

Surely these people can't be wrong, can they?

I’m not sure you should place too much trust in numbers - it’s quite easy to fool a lot of customers a lot of the time. A majority can be wrong. It also depends on who all these people are who are willing to trust him.

Clever!

Just read through your post again as if it was written by someone else.

You wouldn’t in a million years advise them to use this person would you?

There’s your answer.

Just a further point - I wonder how old some of these positive customers are? If they’re getting on a bit, they might not be too worried about how long the new central heating system and boiler might last but younger customers might have more of a vested interest in a better quality job which would last them longer

It might be a good idea to get back in touch with the people who said it was a good idea, and see if they have changed their minds now that they know whether what they were telling you is really the case. The work is likely to be with you for a long time, so you need to be really sure that you are doing the right thing.

Great advice, everyone. Thank you!

Ditch him and find another local contractor. But undertake steps to find what his local reputation is before giving him the job. Or you could approach "rogue traders" (well you never know ). Best of luck

Gosh, sorry I have been so dense as to take this at face value
Glad others were more on the ball than I! ????

I thought that was really clever❗️
Then I loved the serious replies ...
?